ON THE TOWN:

From “Passion in Action” to “Progress through Passion,” the gavel and its accompanying theme was passed from Glendale Soroptimist President Sandy Schultz Sandy Schultz to President-elect Sandy Doughty on Thursday at the Hilton Glendale in front of about 75 Soroptimists and guests. The installing officer was Glendale’s own Margo Bottcher, Camino Real Region District 2 director.

City greetings were given by Councilman Dave Weaver. At 13 years and counting, Weaver is the longest-serving councilman. Also on hand from the city were Councilwoman Laura Friedman and Deputy City Manager Yasmin Beers. (Beers is a past president of Soroptimist, having served in 1999-2000.)

Kathy Lefkovits was honored with the Laurel Society Award. Presenter Olive Warner said the award represents service “beyond the call of duty.” Lefkovits is the brains behind the bras. This year’s “Bras for a Cause Goes to Work” Soroptimist fundraiser helped fund breast cancer services at Glendale’s three hospitals. Among those was Glendale Memorial’s Marcia Ray Breast Center, represented by Managing Supervisor Wanda Wheeler, who accepted a $4,000 grant. The center has just installed an all-digital system for mammograms (funded, in part, by last year’s Soroptimist grant.)

President-elect Sandy Doughty and her new board intend to carry on Schultz’s “passion.” And Doughty is up to the task. As executive director of the Glendale Assn. for the Retarded, well-assisted by Foundation Director Sharon Townsend Roth, more than $100,000 was grossed at the organization’s Derby Day 2009.

Boy Scout Troop 125 of the Verdugo Hills Council celebrated its 70th anniversary June 17 at the Joe Bridges Clubhouse in Glendale’s Glenoaks Park. The troop invited dozens of former Boy Scouts, Eagle Scouts, Scoutmasters and everyone else who had been part of the Troop 125 family.

In those 70 years, 98 Boy Scouts from Troop 125 have received the Eagle Scout Award. (According to National Boy Scouts of America statistics, only one in 100 Boy Scouts achieve Eagle Scout ranking.) No. 99, Glendale resident Aaron Hong, 17, is due to receive his Eagle Scout in a Court of Honor this summer. Hong’s Eagle Scout project is making jazz band stands for Glendale High School. Hong, an outgoing patrol leader, will attend UC Davis in the fall.

Also celebrating the anniversary were Scoutmaster Peter Thompson, who welcomed several dozen Scout supporters, Scoutmaster-elect Michael Diekmann, assistant Scoutmaster Michael Izumi, anniversary coordinator Kim Kunitake and committee member Betty Fritz.

With the guidance of adult leaders, Troup 125 is primarily run by the boys. In its early years, some of the camping trips took place in Glenoaks Canyon, where parents could see the pitched tents of their campers from their homes.

Guild Opera Company celebrated 60 years of introducing young audiences to opera Saturday at the Autry National Center of the American West.

Three internationally acclaimed opera stars, Marilyn Horne, Mary Costa and Heintz Blankenburg, were honored during a reception and silent auction. Chairwomen and Glendale residents Fran Benedict and Joanne Horne (Marilyn Horne is her sister-in-law) also recognized La Crescenta resident Grace-Lynne Martin Ingle. Ingle is a former company singer, who sang many roles for the Guild Opera. Her husband, John Ingle, was on hand for some autograph-signing, as well. He plays Edward Quartermaine on ABC’s “General Hospital.”

Featured at the gala was the world premiere of the opera for children, “The Treasure of California,” written and directed by Guild Opera artistic director Gabriel Reoyo-Pazos. Set in the time of the California Gold Rush, the work is based on Puccini’s “Girl of the Golden West” — hence the gala’s Autry National Center location, just outside Glendale. The one-hour opera was performed twice during the afternoon.

Spotted at the reception between performances was actress-director Nancy Malone. Chatting with John Ingle, she recalled directing some “General Hospital” episodes with him. Glendale residents on hand included Martha Feutz, Doyle Kutch, Sally Benson and doctors Marguerite and Robert Marsh. (She’s a psychotherapist; he’s a surgeon.)

Since 1949, more than 4 million Southern California elementary school children have been introduced to opera by the Guild Opera Company, which is second to the San Francisco Opera Company as California’s oldest opera company.

The Armenian Apostolic Church of La Crescenta-La Cañada presented the Annual Youth Classical Music Festival on Saturday. Twenty-five youth from several areas in Southern California performed classical music pieces. Angela Yang, 11, came from Alhambra to play the violin.

But most of the performers were from Glendale, including Tigran Danielyan, 9, pianist. He was there with proud Mom Lilit Hovhannisyan, flutist and music teacher. Her student, Ruben Durgaryan, performed on flute. Gary Kirikian played the piano toward the end of the program. He has spent 14 of his 18 years practicing the piano. But music will take a back seat to his psychology studies when he transfers to UCLA in the fall. Kirikian has been a Glendale Community College student for the last two years.

The festival was sponsored by pharmacist Vahan Aladadi at Glendale West Pharmacy.

 RUTH SOWBY may be reached at ruthsowby@msn.com.